Okay, so insomnia is a you know what and a half, but at least that means one more chapter before the Hiatus! Hope that everyone enjoys!
Invitation
Chapter 11
Lucy rubbed her hands together as she looked over to the sink, where the little test strip rested. Along with any decisions she and Cobra had for the future.
"Lucy, you need to remain calm. Just in case." Mira voiced, causing her to give a sigh before looking to the woman, along with Levy, who had thrown a fit when she had heard what happened. Only to shut it when Lucy had pointed out that Levy had the same scare she was going through at one point with Gajeel.
"Have you and Cobra decided what will happen if you are pregnant?" Levy asked, causing her to rest against the wall while hovering a hand over her stomach.
"He says he'll help take responsibility, but I don't want him to stay with me just because he thinks he has to. I know he loves me, but this is just starting, so...This might just be too soon." She whispered, giving a sigh before resting her head against the back of the wall. Staring up at the white ceiling.
"Well, from what I heard from Midnight, Laxus and Gajeel have given him the third degree non-stop." Mira voiced, causing her to look back down at the women and shook her head.
"I'll have to tell them to lay off. It wasn't just his responsibility to think about the condom. Why can't they see that?" She growled, reaching for her phone but froze as the alarm that she had set for the test strip finally went off.
It had been three weeks since the initial scare, four weeks since they had officially started dating, and six months since the party that they had met at. In that time, they had gotten to know one another, he had dropped a few shields, and they had fallen for one another. Inhaling, she silenced the alarm, and walked over to the sink, bracing herself for what she would see.
"Lucy, do you want one of us to see?" Levy asked, causing her to pause before squeezing her eyes closed and shaking her head.
"No. I can do this, and I will tell Cobra first. Even before you two." She whispered, keeping her eyes closed but lowered her head and peeked open her eyes. Blinking as she saw the signal on the strip, and pulled her phone closer to her. Her mind going a mile a minute as she snapped a picture of the white and pink stick, with a green plus symbol showing on the screen.
Hitting send, she waited until a double check mark was show. Telling her that he had received and read the message, before putting her phone down and turning to the two woman waiting patiently.
"I'm pregnant." She whispered, sinking down onto the closed toilet and wrapping her arms around her stomach. She was pregnant. She had their child growing within her. She was going to be a mother...Her mind froze at that thought, before warmth seemed to spread through her and she covered her mouth as a smile began to spread her lips.
"Lucy?" The concern tone from Levy caused her to raise her head and she gave a watery laugh.
"Levy. I'm going to be a mother." She whispered, watching as her eyes widened before she clapped her hands together.
"Oh Lucy..." She seemed loss for words, since they both knew that Lucy had never thought she would ever become a mother. Not after her issues, and her self-esteem. Yet, here it was. She was pregnant with a child, from a man that she loved, and she couldn't help but to feel happy about it. The only nagging fear she had now, would she make a good mother? Would she be able to keep their family together, and more stable than her own had been.
Not to mention, what was Cobra's thoughts on all of this? Would he be thrilled, or would he find this as nothing but a burden for his future? Now that she thought about it...What was Cobra's future? What was the plans he had made for himself? She knew that he had a love for science, chemistry and such..Meaning that a child could very well hold him back.
Gnawing on her bottom lip, she looked at the two women watching her silently. Swallowing, she swiped her hands on her jeans and stood. She had to speak with Erik. She had to make him realize that he didn't have to stay...That he could still be in the child's life, but if he wanted to continue toward his future, then she wouldn't make them a burden. Her mother had raised her by herself, and she knew that she could do the same thing for him.
"I..I need to speak with Cobra." She whispered, watching as they both nodded and stood with her.
"I'll come along to help Midnight get the others off his back so you two can talk in private." Mira announced, and Levy gave a hum.
"I can get Gajeel to back off. You two focus on Laxus, since he's going to be furious." Levy voiced, leading them out of the bathroom. Lucy looked to the test strip once more, before exhaling slowly and straightening her back. She loved Cobra, and she could wait until he finished his future goals before asking for a true family from him. If he wanted to be in the child's life, and not her, she would respect that as well. She was happy as she was, even if it meant she wouldn't be able to keep Cobra.
She just hoped that she could explain all of this better to him. It sounded like she was pushing him away, but that wasn't her goal. She wanted him to focus on his future, not just on her and the child. She could still achieve her dream while pregnant and taking care of a child, since she just wanted to be an editor, she could easily do her work from home. Him however...He would have to be constantly at the lab, or in his office, or someplace else. She knew that he would take lengths to make sure that he was around, but not if it meant risking his job or career. That's what she had to make sure he understood!
Giving a final nod, she followed after her friends. Remaining quiet between them as they all walked out of the girls dormitory and into the main walkway of the campus grounds. It was Levy that first broke the silence.
"How do you think Cobra is reacting now?" She asked, and Lucy gave a smile while giving a shrug.
"Knowing him, he's probably freaking out. I suspect he's stressing everything out on Midnight." Mira stated, causing her to blink before turning to the woman.
"What do you mean?" She asked, watching as Mira smirked.
"Oh, Midnight has told me how Cobra is always running to him for advice. He doesn't mind, since he knows where it stems from, but no doubt he's asking advice now. Cobra even went to him when he was trying to figure out how to approach you with his feelings, Lucy." Mira explained, causing her to blink before looking to the ground. Cobra had sought out Midnight to ask about her? Maybe she was thinking about this all wrong...Maybe..Maybe she really didn't know Cobra as much as she thought she did. Hell, she didn't even know what his plan for the future was, and now she was just trying to tell him to go for it instead of focusing on her and the child.
No, this wasn't something she could tell Cobra what to do. They had to talk about this, figure out the future together. If she tried to push her way on it, then it would end up like her parent's lives, and she wouldn't wish that on any child. Especially her own. Giving a smile, she turned to the women.
"Thank you, the both of you." She whispered, merely smiling when they both gave her confused looks and finally stepped onto the sidewalk of the city and off campus grounds.
"What for Lucy?"
"For always being there, of course. If it hadn't been for you then...I don't know what would have become of me." She voiced, looking up with a smile but found herself freezing and the smile falling. Not even six feet away, was Cobra's father, grinning at them. Terror raced down her spine, and she quickly latched onto their arms, stopping them from making another move as she recalled everything that this man has done.
"Run. Now." She shouted, tugging them back toward the campus, but gasped as she bumped into a hard chest and strong arms wrapped around her. Her gaze looking to Mira and Levy as they took shocked steps back as Cobra's father took a step forward.
"Run!" She screamed at them, watching as Mira looked over their shoulders, grabbed Levy's arm and dashed across the street. Making it to the other side and running full sprint in the direction they had been heading. Looking over her shoulder to Lucy, a silent promise that they would help her out of this situation. Lucy gave a nod before facing Cobra's father, who was now before her. A cruel smirk on his face that had her stomach coiling in nausea.
"Well, my dear. How about a little trip?"
Cobra gave a groan as he showed the text to Midnight, his body already trembling in both excitement and fear. Excitement because he was going to be a father, and the woman he loved more than his own life was the mother. Then fear was nagging at him, making him wonder if he was going to be a bastard like his own father or perhaps even her own.
He knew for certain, he wanted to be with her! Hell, he had even told Jellal about everything now. Making the man speechless when he had asked for the ring that Kinana's mother had given him just days before her passing. Telling him that he could give it to the woman he loved, since she wouldn't need it. It had killed him back then when she had given it to him, but now he was thankful for the woman he ever viewed as a mother.
"So, you're going to be a father." Midnight was silent for a moment, before releasing a sigh and glaring at him.
"I'm both happy for you, and pissed at you. How the hell can you be starting a family before me and Mira." He growled, causing a strangled laugh to escape him. Leave it to Midnight to make his nerves ease, and he looked back to the picture that Lucy sent him. The white and pink test strip, with the green positive sign in the center. Proving that she was already releasing the proper hormones to care for the child growing within her.
Falling back onto his bed, he covered his face with his hands and laughed as a shit eating grin spread his lips. This was amazing, the woman that he loved, and who loved him, was pregnant with his child. Sure, everything had been rushed, and this sure as hell wasn't planned, but he couldn't help but feel elated by it.
"There's going to be a fucking mini me in this world." He muttered, smirking as Midnight remained quiet before giving a groan.
"Lords above help us." Midnight muttered, causing another bark of laughter to leave him. A feeling of suddenly calling Lucy came over him and he grabbed his phone, wanting to hear her voice. To hear how she was feeling about all of this. It rang twice, before the line connected and he was about to speak when he heard shuffling over the line.
"Hello, Bright Eyes?" He asked, smirking as he heard her speaking with the girls and realized that she must have accidentally answered the phone without knowing. Rolling his eyes, but smiling at her annoying habit of keeping her phone on silent and unlocked in her pocket.
He couldn't tell what they were talking about, but it was obvious that they were walking. Making him wonder if they were on their way to the apartment. No doubt to share the news with the other men, who were still no doubt waiting for him to come out of his room, so they could skin his hide. They took the news about the possible pregnancy about as well as he expected, meaning that he had to take refuge in his room just to keep his head situated on his shoulders.
"Run. Now."
The sudden shout from the phone had him jumping slightly, his gaze shooting to Midnight as even he straightened from hearing it. A muffled voice sounded, before something seemed to hit against the back of Lucy, causing static to sound over the line.
"Run!"
Lucy's clear scream had him on his feet, barely registering Midnight reaching for his phone as it began to ring. Throwing his door open, he ignored his two startled roommates as he dodged between them and toward the apartment door. His stomach clenching as he heard Lucy stop struggling and another voice, a voice he hated with every fiber of his being sounded.
"Well, my dear. How about a little trip?"
"Cobra! It's your..."
"I fucking know! And I'm gonna fucking kill him!" He snarled, throwing the apartment door and running out. That bastard was dead the moment he found them! Looking down at his phone, he minimized the call screen, and quickly linked his phone with Lucy's. Anger coursing through his body as it connected, and showed him that they were moving toward the northern part of the city. He needed a fucking ride!
"Cobra!" The shout from Laxus had him looking over his shoulder to see the blonde man hot on his heels. Keys in hand and his phone calling someone. Giving a nod, allowed him to take the lead and followed him into the complex's garage. Practically jumping into the passenger seat and watched as he started the car and squealed out.
"This is Dreyar! We need units to..."
"The warehouses. That fucker is starting everything over again!" He hissed, feeling his eyes narrow in on the dot and the only location where they could hide out at.
"Shit. Get units to the warehouses in the northern district. Now!" Laxus barked, and Cobra felt his body trembling as he clenched the phone in his hand. If that bastard so much as harmed a hair on Lucy's head...
"Cobra, I'm gonna have to get you to calm down. Or else I'll have to leave you in the car. Cuffed if I have to." Laxus warned, and he glared over at the man. Only to blink as the police radio began to sound in his car.
"This is Dreyar."
"Dreyar! This is Fernandez! I'm from another district. Permission to join in this, I am close to the northern boarder, and I know the man who is responsible. I've been keeping tabs on him since he was bailed from prison!"
Cobra didn't even hesitate, he grabbed the radio and held it up to his mouth.
"Jellal! You didn't do a good fucking enough job, and don't ask for fucking permission! He has the woman I'm gonna make mine! So, if you want him arrested in one fucking piece, I suggest you get her out of there and already in your car before I arrive." He growled, ignoring Laxus's look and waited a moment.
"I hear ya Eri...Cobra. I'll make sure Lucy is unharmed." Jellal sounded, and Cobra calmed some. Releasing a sigh, before clicking the button and holding it up again.
"Alright. But, if he's laid a single hand on her, he's dead. I don't care if he's in your car or not." He voiced, hanging the radio up and staring down at his phone. Lucy had finally stopped, but they were still a ways from them. Clenching his phone tightly, he brought his forehead down to the screen and gave a growl. This bastard was not stealing his life from him twice! He'd die before he allowed that to happen!
Hope that everyone enjoyed!